A GRANDSON has paid a heartfelt tribute to his champion grandfather Teddy Baldock after raising funds to unveil a statue in his memory.

Baldock earned the title of Britain’s youngest ever world champion boxer in 1927, aged just 19, after defeating American Archie Bell at the Royal Albert Hall.

His grandson, Martin Sax, 44, from Minehead, has been working to commission a statue celebrating his grandfather’s achievement since 2009.

His plan finally came to fruition on Friday when the bronze statue was unveiled in Langdon Park, Poplar, just yards from where Teddy grew up and exactly 75 years after he won his title.

Martin, a retired colour sergeant, said: “The day was just absolutely fantastic. We were asked if we wanted to put the statue in the Olympic Park, and obviously that would have been amazing but Poplar was where my grandfather grew up.

“He said he was proud of Poplar because it made him and now he’s back standing in the streets that made him.

“I had kids coming up and asking about him – I think this was the right place to be, I think he’ll be an inspiration to the kids using the sports centre."

More than 300 people attended the event and proceeds raised on the day are going towards the Teddy Baldock Sports Benevolent Fund, a charity I set up to help people who have been severely injured while playing sport.